Light scattering and dielectric relaxation studies of glass forming liquids

Extended Abstract: Glass forming organic liquids and polymers exhibit long range density fluctuations with correlation length ξ in the range of 10–300 nm at temperatures above T_g (1 - 6). This follows from dynamic and static light scattering experiments revealing some unexpected features, which cannot be explained on the basis of conventional liquid state theories: (i) In static light scattering the intensity I(q → 0) is no longer proportional to the isothermal compressibility, (ii) This excess scattering I_exc shows a strong q-dependence (q = (4π/Λ.)sin(θ/2)) corresponding to a correlation length ξ in the above mentioned range, (iii) The Landau-Placzek ratio I_Rayleigh/2I_Brillouin is much too high compared with the results of light scattering theories, (iv) In photon correlation spectroscopy a new ultraslow hydrodynamic mode (Γ ˜ q²) is detected with relaxation rates Γ about 10⁻⁶ to 10⁻⁹ lower than those of the α-process at a given temperature. In order to explain these observations, a two-state fluid model is proposed, which starts from the coexistence of “liquid-like” and “aperiodic solid-like” regions within the liquids. Such ideas have been discussed many times before, so for example A.R. Ubbelohde (7) speculates about “anticrystalline” clusters in liquids. Molecular dynamics simulations of atomic liquids showed that long range orientational fluctuations appear upon supercooling (8). A preferred icosahedral ordering is observed (9) and the number of icosahedral clusters increases with decreasing temperature (10). In connection with the interpretation of the dynamics of supercooled liquids different “two-state” models have been proposed (11 - 15). For the explanation of the light scattering results we propose that the molecules in the different dynamic states (“liquid” or “solid”) aggregate during annealing of the liquid at temperatures above T_g. Experiments showed that the equilibration times can be rather long (3 - 5), but nevertheless the liquids exhibiting long range density fluctuations are in the state of lowest free energy. We claim that our observations are the first experimental proof of the existence of such different dynamic states, which have been discussed many times before. The extended secondary clusters can also be detected by ultra small angle X-ray scattering.     

The Anthelmintic Quassinoids Ailanthone and Bruceine a Induce Infertility in the Model Organism Caenorhabditis elegans by an Apoptosis-like Mechanism Induced in Gonadal and Spermathecal Tissues

In continuation of the search for new anthelmintic natural products, the study at hand investigated the nematicidal effects of the two naturally occurring quassinoids ailanthone and bruceine A against the reproductive system of the model nematode Caenorhabditis elegans to pinpoint their anthelmintic mode of action by the application of various microscopic techniques. Differential Interference Contrast (DIC) and the epifluorescence microscopy experiments used in the presented study indicated the genotoxic effects of the tested quassinoids (c _ailanthone = 50 µM, c _{bruceine A} = 100 µM) against the nuclei of the investigated gonadal and spermathecal tissues, leaving other morphological key features such as enterocytes or body wall muscle cells unimpaired. In order to gain nanoscopic insight into the morphology of the gonads as well as the considerably smaller spermathecae of C. elegans, an innovative protocol of polyethylene glycol embedding, ultra-sectioning, acridine orange staining, tissue identification by epifluorescence, and subsequent AFM-based ultrastructural data acquisition was applied. This sequence allowed the facile and fast assessment of the impact of quassinoid treatment not only on the gonadal but also on the considerably smaller spermathecal tissues of C. elegans. These first-time ultrastructural investigations on C. elegans gonads and spermathecae by AFM led to the identification of specific quassinoid-induced alterations to the nuclei of the reproductive tissues (e.g., highly condensed chromatin, impaired nuclear membrane morphology, as well as altered nucleolus morphology), altogether implying an apoptosis-like effect of ailanthone and bruceine A on the reproductive tissues of C. elegans.     

Study of Mono- and Bimetallic Fe and Mn Oxide-Supported Clinoptilolite for Improved Pb(II) Removal

A cost-effective, iron- and manganese-oxide-supported clinoptilolite-based rock was prepared. Based on its nanoporous structure, it worked as a nanoreactor, thereby providing enhanced functionalities. The mono- and bimetallic Fe- and Mn-oxide-supported clinoptilolite was thoroughly characterized with thermoanalytical FT-IR, XRD, SEM, and XPS spectroscopy. All the spectral procedures that were used confirmed the occurrence of a new MnO₂ phase (predominantly birnessite), including mostly amorphous iron oxi(hydr)oxide (FeO(OH)) species on the surface of the above-synthesized adsorbents. The synthesized products validated a considerably higher adsorption capacity toward Pb(II) pollutants compared to the natural clinoptilolite. The following order of a(max) toward Pb(II) was found: MnOx-zeolite (202.1 mg/g) > FeO(OH)-MnOx-zeolite (101.3 mg/g) > FeO(OH)-zeolite (80 mg/g) > natural zeolite (54.9 mg/g). The adsorption equilibrium data were analyzed by the two-parameter empirical isotherm models Langmuir, Freundlich, and BET as well as the three-parameter Redlich–Peterson isotherm.     

Binary and Ternary Complexes Between Lauryl Hexaoxyethylene, Benzoate and Cyclodextrin. Part II. β-CD

The characterization of binary and ternary complexes of benzoate, lauryl hexaoxyethylene (C₁₂E₆) and -CD is presented. The complexation equilibrium was characterized by UV-Vis spectrophotometry, titration microcalorimetry, capillary electrophoresis, and 2D ROESY ¹H-NMR. Results suggested that -CD forms one complex with C₁₂E₆in the stoichiometric ratio of -CD : C₁₂E₆1.5 : 1, with a stability constant 1.3 × 10⁵ M^-1.5. The 2-D ROESY ¹H-NMR spectrum indicated that C₁₂E₆is included inside the -CD cavity. The primary binding site of C₁₂E₆ is on the lauryl subunit of this molecule. Analogous to a previously reported study of -CD, the combination of -CD and C₁₂E₆precipitated from the solution. Addition of benzoate seemed to dissolve the precipitate and nearly doubled the apparent stability constant of the complex. Results from the various techniques supported formation of ternary complexes between -CD, C₁₂E₆, and benzoate.     

Trifluoromethoxy substituted anilines: metalation as the key step for structural elaboration

Trifluoromethoxy-substituted anilines undergo hydrogen/lithium permutation ("metalation") with optional site selectivity depending on the N-protective group employed. N-tert-Butoxycarbonyl-2- and -4-(trifluoromethoxy)aniline react with tert-butyllithium at the nitrogen-adjacent 6- and 2-position affording, after electrophilic trapping, products 1-6. In contrast, deprotonation of the para isomer occurs at the oxygen-neighboring 3-position, giving rise to the acid 12, when the amino group is carrying two trimethylsilyl groups. sec-Butyllithium attacks 3-trifluoromethoxy-N-mono(trimethylsilyl)aniline at the 2-position, but 3-trifluoromethoxy-N,N-bis(trimethylsilyl)aniline at the 4-position to provide respectively the acids 10 and 11 after carboxylation. The synthesis of two new benzodiazepines illustrates (19 and 22) the preparative potential of the aniline functionalization mediated by organometallic reagents.     

Fluorescent behavior of B-phycoerythrin in microemulsions of aerosol OT/water/isooctane

Taking advantage of its unusual fluorescent properties, the incorporation of B-phycoerythrin (B-PE) in aerosol OT (AOT, sodium bis-(2-ethylhexyl) sulphosuccinate)/water/isooctane microemulsions was investigated by following their steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence as a function of the water-to-surfactant molar ratio, w(0). The fluorescent intensity at 575 nm increased continuously with increasing water content, saturating at a w(0) around 35 and staying practically constant at w(0)> or =40. The steady-state anisotropy showed an initial increase with increasing water content until w(0)=23 and then decreased strongly, staying practically constant when w(0)> or =40. The values of the fluorescent parameters, anisotropy and fluorescent intensity, were unchanged when the water content of the system increased in the range between w(0)=40 to 50. This implies the effective incorporation of B-PE in the microemulsion droplets with w(0)> or =40, as well as the equilibrium of the dispersion at these water/surfactant ratios, since higher water content does not affect the main surrounding microenvironment of the protein. The overall incorporation in the microemulsion droplets caused minor spectroscopic changes with respect to biliprotein in aqueous solution of 20 mM sodium phosphate buffer, pH 7.0, such as a blue absorption shift of 3 nm and an emission shift of 1.5 nm, as well as a slight increase in excitation anisotropy spectrum mainly caused by a decrease in protein mobility. Therefore, there are no important interactions between the chromophores and the AOT sulfonate head groups. Emission intensity decays followed complex kinetics in both aqueous and dispersion media. The stability with time and temperature of the biliprotein in the microemulsion was higher than in the aqueous solution. All the results can be explained in terms of B-PE inclusion in the water droplets of AOT microemulsions where the protein has similar configuration and conformation to that in aqueous solution but with the chromophores more protected.     

Monitoring some phenoxyl-type N-methylcarbamate pesticide residues in fruit juices using high-performance liquid chromatography with peroxyoxalate-chemiluminescence detection

A systematic investigation of optimal conditions for determining three of the most common phenoxyl-type N-methylcarbamate pesticides (carbaryl, carbofuran and propoxur) in fruit juices by HPLC with peroxyoxalate-chemiluminescence detection is described. The required pre-column hydrolysis of pesticides and derivatization of their hydrolytic metabolites with dansyl chloride was simultaneously carried out in a short time thanks to the micellar catalytic effect provided by cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide micelles on the hydrolysis step. The liquid chromatographic separation of the dansylated phenols was performed on a reversed-phase C18 column with isocratic elution. The analytes were detected by using an integrated derivatization chemiluminescence detection unit based on the bis(2,4,6-trichlorophenyl)oxalate-hydrogen peroxide system. Fruit juice samples containing 4.0-1500 microg/l pesticides were analysed with a precision of ca. 6.5%. After contamination of the fruit juice samples, average recovery > 93% at fortification levels of 10-100 microg/l was obtained.     

Comparison of reversed-phase liquid chromatography and hydrophilic interaction/cation-exchange chromatography for the separation of amphipathic alpha-helical peptides with L- and D-amino acid substitutions in the hydrophilic face

Mixed-mode hydrophilic interaction/cation-exchange chromatography (HILIC/CEX) is a novel high-performance technique which has excellent potential for peptide separations. Separations by HILIX/CEX are carried out by subjecting peptides to linear increasing salt gradients in the presence of high levels of acetonitrile, which promotes hydrophilic interactions overlaid on ionic interactions with the cation-exchange matrix. In the present study, HILIC/CEX has been compared to reversed-phase liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) for separation of mixtures of diastereomeric amphipathic alpha-helical peptide analogues, where L- and D-amino acid substitutions were made in the centre of the hydrophilic face of the amphipathic alpha-helix. Unlike RP-HPLC, temperature had a substantial effect on HILIC/CEX of the peptides, with a rise in temperature from 25 to 65 degrees C increasing the retention times of the peptides as well as improving resolution. Our results again highlight the potential of HILIC/CEX as a peptide separation mode in its own right as well as an excellent complement to RP-HPLC.     

A quantitative determination of the polymerization of benzoxazine thin coatings by time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry

Phenol-paraphenylenediamine (P-pPDA) benzoxazines exhibit excellent barrier properties, adequate to protect aluminum alloys from corrosion, and constitute interesting candidates to replace chromate-containing coatings in the aeronautical industry. For the successful application of P-pPDA coatings, it is necessary to decrease the curing temperature to avoid the delamination of the coating while preserving the mechanical properties of the alloy, as well as the barrier properties of the coating. However, decreasing the curing temperature leads to less polymerized films, the extent of which requires a quantitative assessment. While the conversion rate of the polymerization reaction is commonly evaluated for bulk samples using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), a tool for its evaluation in thin films is missing. Therefore, a new approach was developed for that matter using time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS). The relation between the SIMS data integrated from inside thin films and the DSC results obtained on bulk samples with the same curing cycle allowed to calibrate the SIMS data. With this preliminary calibration of the technique, the polymerization of P-pPDA coatings can be locally determined, at the surface and along the depth of the coating, using dual-beam depth profiling with large argon cluster beam sputtering.